2023 was a 12 months of speedy development in generative AI. We picked up a brand new vocabulary—prompting, iteration, “usefully incorrect.” We diminished digital debt—that pileup of information, emails, conferences, and notifications that retains us from getting actual work completed. And we bought extra productive, inventive, and saved time—each individually and as organizations.

Alongside the way in which, we realized so much about how Microsoft Copilot will change work. In a survey of our Early Entry Program, 70 p.c of Copilot customers mentioned it made them extra productive, and 68 p.c mentioned it improved the standard of their work. Early customers mentioned Copilot helped them get their work completed faster: 85 p.c mentioned they have been in a position to get to a great first draft quicker, and 64 p.c mentioned it helped them spend much less time processing electronic mail.

As a frontrunner on the heart of generative AI right here at Microsoft, Colette Stallbaumer has been studying find out how to harness the ability of Copilot alongside our clients and companions. Right here, the Normal Supervisor of Microsoft 365 & Way forward for Work shares her favourite Copilot suggestions of the previous 12 months.

1. Let Copilot resolve the post-meeting muddle.

Too usually, nobody outlines subsequent steps on the finish of a gathering, leaving initiatives at a standstill. To maintain your work shifting ahead, ask Copilot in Microsoft Groups for a bulleted listing of motion gadgets, together with who’s liable for every. You possibly can even ask Copilot to draft an electronic mail to your colleagues with the listing to ensure everyone seems to be in control.

2. Get the chief abstract—each time.

It may possibly really feel unattainable to maintain up with all of the paperwork, shows, and emails you must learn every single day. To get the TL;DR, ask Copilot to “clarify this doc/electronic mail/deck in three sentences.” In seconds, it’ll look via the doc, discover crucial info, and offer you a quick overview.

3. Atone for conferences in a fraction of the time.

Double booked? We all know the sensation. If you happen to miss a gathering, ask Copilot in Groups what key factors have been mentioned. Copilot will define the necessary takeaways so you possibly can skip watching that recording on 2x velocity. And when you’re working late, simply ask Copilot, “what did I miss within the assembly to date?” to get a abstract of what’s occurred.

4. Rapidly whip your deck into presentation-ready form.

You’ve created a PowerPoint presentation based mostly on an array of paperwork, emails, and spreadsheets. Within the Earlier than Instances, you’d should undergo the deck slide by slide to ensure every thing appeared crisp and constant. Now, simply ask Copilot to “make all fonts Segoe UI” or “make all headings measurement 18-point.” Generally it’s the smallest issues that prevent beneficial time.

5. Summarize lengthy electronic mail threads.

Once you’re getting back from day off, that mountain in your inbox can really feel like Everest. As an alternative of studying every electronic mail that got here via when you have been out, use Copilot to shortly summarize a protracted electronic mail thread by choosing “Abstract by Copilot.” It’s going to scan the thread to determine key factors and remaining selections that will help you rise up to hurry faster. So go forward, take that PTO day—you deserve it.

This text first appeared within the WorkLab publication. Be the primary to get our updates by subscribing right here .